2011 Volkswagen Touareg V6 FSI - $77,990EGC

Volkswagen's new Touareg has already appeared in these pages in base 150 TDI diesel form.

We found it a convincing luxury soft-roader, all the more so when shopped against mainstream rivals.

The V6 FSI tested here, however, has a higher price, higher expectations and a harder job ahead ? along with VW?s diesel models, it must prise buyers out of their Audis, BMWs and Volvos and into the VW fold.